Arsenal vs Brighton: 3 talking points from 0-0 draw

What a difference a week makes. Against Tottenham Arsenal looked up for the fight and were full value for their win. Against Brighton, not so much.

Graham Potter’s side can consider themselves a little unlucky not to have come away with more than a point after a first half in which they should have scored one or two at least. Even after the break they kept having an abundance of efforts.

Wayward shots in key areas were the hosts’ downfall as Arsenal had to withstand long spells of pressure, all the while creating precious little.

Emile Smith Rowe fashioned himself a half-chance from a tight angle and Bukayo Saka saw an effort hit straight at the goalkeeper in the first minute, but otherwise there was very little for the visitors to be joyful about in front of goal.

Arsenal vs Brighton: 3 talking points from 0-0 draw a Mikel Arteta’s side scrape a result with a poor Premier League performance

On a wet and windy night, Arsenal did not look at the races at all. Misplaced passes everywhere, they were outworked and everything in between. It was just an off night for Mikel Arteta’s men and given the way the game panned out a point away is not necessarily a bad thing, despite a clear want for three points.

As with every match, it provided plenty of talking points, and here are some from Arsenal’s draw with Brighton.

1. Arsenal Show Defensive Steel

Say what you want about Brighton’s 21 shots, but only two were on target and the Gunners backline is largely to thank for that.

In years gone by, the defense would have wilted under the Brighton pressure and conceded. Not tonight. Led by Gabriel, the Arsenal rearguard was stout under heavy pressure – and bent but didn’t break.

This has been the Achilles heel of Arsenal for over a decade and in their last two away Premier League outings against Burnley and now Brighton, four points and two clean sheets is nothing to turn your nose up at. The Brazilian was a rock in the air just as Ben White was a force on the turf.

It was an off game for near enough every Arsenal player, but the back four did their job, along with Aaron Ramsdale, who was barely tested throughout the game barring a magnificent late intervention.

If there have been serious signs of improvement this season, with a fully fit list, it’s the rearguard. They look tight, compact, and most importantly, don’t concede. While three points would have been ideal, a draw away on a wet night is better than losing which is what usually happens with the Arsenal of old.

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2. Gabriel Martinelli Cuts a Forgotten Figure

Does anyone remember when Gabriel Martinelli burst onto the Arsenal scene? Scoring goals for fun and look the club’s most dangerous player? Me neither. It feels like so long ago that it’s a distant memory.

The knee injury aside, Martinelli simply hasn’t got the game time many expected, and against Brighton with ten minutes to go, it was the perfect time to bring the Brazilian on.

With Saka withdrawn, Arteta instead decided to go with Ainsley Maitland-Niles to replace him which is a real headscratcher. Clearly Arteta wanted to consolidate and escape with a point rather than going for a win, but what does that say about the Gunners boss? Live to fight another day?

With the firepower Martinelli can bring you, surely it was worth a chance. In a game lacking explosiveness and directness in behind, the Brazilian seemed like the ideal candidate to come on and give Arsenal some chaos in the final third.

In Martinelli’s case, it is hard to envisage outside of cup competitions just where his minutes are going to come from having fallen so far down the pecking order at the Emirates. It is a worrying sign for one of our best-attacking talents and if the trend continues, then like William Saliba, Arsenal could loan him out and other clubs get to enjoy the work he does.

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.

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3. Did Differing Emotions Impact the Arsenal Performance?

After the hype surrounding the North London Derby in the week leading up to the match, every player knew the importance of a positive result. Brighton away does not have the same allure. But it shouldn’t be treated differently.

From the outset, it was clear Brighton was up for the fight and Arsenal wasn’t. For whatever reason the hosts just appeared to want it more. Their energy was outstanding. When the big boys come to town, the home sides give it their best shot and the Seagulls did tonight, albeit to no avail.

There was bound to be some form of an emotional letdown after the huge result against Tottenham and this rang true against Graham Potter’s men. The Gunners can consider themselves fortunate to come away with a point but after the week prior, perhaps a point isn’t the end of the world. It’s still ten points from four matches.

Three would have been perfect but after a match in which grave importance was placed, Brighton didn’t have the same feel to it and maybe the difference in emotion was on display for all to see. Which, if the case, is unacceptable. Only those inside the locker room will know for sure but watching from afar, it was evident that something was missing.

The team struggled. Badly. Whether it was from Brighton’s effective high pressing or other factors it was clear that this was not the same Arsenal side that tore Spurs apart a week ago.

Perhaps it was just an off day for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. Every club has those. But this felt a little different and had the game been lost, questions would of been asked. It is not the be all and end all, as there is bound to be ups and downs throughout a season, but after its poor start, the margin for error for Arsenal and Arteta grows slimmer by the week.